Method and apparatus for improving control channel structure in shortened transmission time intervals in a wireless communication system

ABSTRACT

Control structures and techniques for transmission time interval (TTI) shortening in wireless communication systems are provided. Exemplary techniques can comprise establishing a UE device connection to a base station having a first TTI, wherein the UE device is configured to employ TTI shortening and has a second TTI different from the first TTI and monitoring a first short physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) region for a scheduled downlink (DL) transmission via the second TTI, wherein a time distribution associated with multiple second TTIs within the first TTI is determined based on a control format indicator (CFI) value indicated via the first TTI. Exemplary techniques can further comprise receiving a DL transmission via the second TTI and transmitting a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARD) acknowledgement (ACK) (HARQ-ACK) feedback on an associated UL channel for HARQ-ACK feedback, wherein for a number of DL transmissions via the second TTI within one of the first TTI on the associated DL, a number of associated UL channels for HARQ-ACK feedback occur within the same one of the first TTI on the associated UL. Further control structures and techniques for TTI shortening for wireless communication systems are described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/335,415, filed on May 12, 2016, and entitled METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR IMPROVING CONTROL CHANNEL STRUCTURE IN SHORTENED TTIs IN AWIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure is directed to wireless communications, and ismore particularly related to control channel structure in shortenedtransmission time intervals in a wireless communication systems.

BACKGROUND

As maximum data rates of the wireless communication systems increase,packet data latency becomes one of the more important metrics forperformance evaluation of wireless communication networks. Thus,reducing packet data latency can improve performance of wirelesscommunication systems and efforts are being made to improve packet datalatency for wireless medication systems.

Conventionally, Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communication systemsemploy a transmission time interval (TTI) of about 1 millisecond (ms) orapproximately 14 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)symbols. In addition, LTE employs two types of control channels,physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), which is a wide band signalacross whole system bandwidth and occupying the first several (e.g.,approximately 1-4) OFDM symbols of a typical 1 ms subframe. The regionoccupied by PDCCH is usually named as control region, and the rest partof the subframe is usually known as data region. A second type ofcontrol channel, enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH),occupies the data region in the time domain, while typically occupyingonly part of the bandwidth in the frequency domain.

Accordingly, TTI shortening and processing time reduction can beconsidered for solutions that can facilitate reducing packet datalatency, as the time unit for transmission can be reduced e.g., from 1ms (e.g., approximately 14 OFDM symbols) and the delay caused bydecoding can be reduced as well. However, reducing the length of TTI canalso have significant impacts on current system design as the physicalchannels are developed based on 1 ms subframe structure. In addition,reducing the length of TTI can also have significant impacts forscheduling and transmission via physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) with such shortened TTI, dueto PDCCH competition and/or short TTI (sTTI) inequality.

The above-described deficiencies of conventional control channelstructures and/or transmission time intervals in wireless communicationsystems are merely intended to provide an overview of some of theproblems of conventional systems and methods, and are not intended to beexhaustive. Other problems with conventional systems and correspondingbenefits of the various non-limiting embodiments described herein maybecome further apparent upon review of the various non-limitingembodiments of the following description.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the specification toprovide a basic understanding of some aspects of the specification. Thissummary is not an extensive overview of the specification. It isintended to neither identify key or critical elements of thespecification nor delineate any scope particular to any embodiments ofthe specification, or any scope of the claims. Its sole purpose is topresent some concepts of the specification in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

As used herein, the following terms can be referred to by the respectiveabbreviations: 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP);acknowledgement (ACK); buffer status report (BSR); Cell Radio NetworkTemporary Identifier (C-RNTI); channel quality indicator (CQI); controlformat indicator (CFI); downlink (DL); Enhanced Interference Mitigationand Traffic Adaptation (eIMTA); Evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB); EvolvedUniversal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Evolved UniversalTerrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN); Frequency-DivisionMultiplexing (FDM); Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ); Layer 1(L1); Long Term Evolution (LTE); LTE-Advanced (LTE-A); Medium AccessControl (MAC); multiple input, multiple output (MIMO); negativeacknowledgement (NACK); New data indicator (NDI); Orthogonal FrequencyDivision Multiplexing (OFDM); Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH);Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH); Physical Downlink SharedChannel (PDSCH); Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH); Radio NetworkTemporary Identifier (RNTI); Relay Node (RN); Radio Resource Control(RRC); Short or Shortened (s-(prefix)), for example, PDCCH for short TTI(sPDCCH); Service Data Unit (SDU); System Frame Number (SFN); SpecialCell (SpCell); Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS); Scheduling Request(SR); Sounding Reference Signal (SRS); Timing Advance Group (TAG);Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM); Technical Specification (TS);Transmission Time Interval (TTI); User Equipment (UE); Uplink (UL); andUplink Shared Channel (UL-SCH).

In various non-limiting embodiments, the disclosed subject matterprovides TTI shortening, which can facilitate efficient scheduling forsPDSCH and sPUSCH transmissions without sPDCCH competition andscheduling complexity due to sTTI inequality, for example, as furtherdescribed herein.

For instance, various embodiments are disclosed that can facilitate TTIshortening and wireless medication systems. Accordingly, non-limitingembodiments of the disclosed subject matter can provide example methodsthat facilitate TTI shortening in UE devices. As non-limiting examples,exemplary methods can comprise establishing with the UE device aconnection to a base station having a first TTI, wherein the UE deviceis configured to employ TTI shortening and has a second TTI differentfrom the first TTI, and monitoring a first short physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) region for a scheduled downlink (DL)transmission via the second TTI, wherein a time distribution associatedwith multiple second TTIs within the first TTI is determined based inpart on a control format indicator (CFI) value indicated via the firstTTI.

As a further non-limiting examples, exemplary methods can compriseestablishing with the UE device a connection to a base station having afirst TTI for an associated DL and an associated uplink (UL), whereinthe UE device is configured to employ TTI shortening and has a secondTTI different from the first TTI, receiving a DL transmission via thesecond TTI, and transmitting hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)acknowledgement (ACK) (HARQ-ACK) feedback on an associated UL channelfor HARQ-ACK feedback, wherein for a number of DL transmissions via thesecond TTI within one of the first TTI on the associated DL, a number ofassociated UL channels for HARQ-ACK feedback occur within the same oneof the first TTI on the associated UL.

In still further non-limiting examples, exemplary methods can compriseestablishing with the UE device a connection to a base station having afirst TTI for an associated DL and an associated UL, wherein the UEdevice is configured to employ TTI shortening and having a third TTI ofa number of TTIs different from the first TTI, detecting a second shortphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for scheduling an ULtransmission via the third TTI, and transmitting at least a scheduled ULtransmission on at least an associated UL channel, wherein for a numberof short PDCCHs within one of the first TTI on the associated DL, aplurality of UL channels having the at least the scheduled ULtransmission occur within the same one of the first TTI on theassociated UL.

In addition, further example implementations are directed to systems,devices and/or other articles of manufacture that facilitate TTIshortening, as further detailed herein.

These and other features of the disclosed subject matter are describedin more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The devices, components, systems, and methods of the disclosed subjectmatter are further described with reference to the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing an exemplary non-limitingmultiple access wireless communication system in which variousembodiments directed to shortened or short TTIs (sTTIs) described hereincan be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary non-limiting MIMOsystem depicting an exemplary embodiment of a transmitter system (alsoreferred to herein as an access network) and a receiver system (alsoreferred to herein as an access terminal (AT) or user equipment (UE)),suitable for incorporation of various aspects directed to sTTIsdescribed herein;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary instance of a short TTI (sTTI) pattern inthe time domain, demonstrating a potential for interference or gaps orunused resources, wherein some resources in the gap cannot be utilizedby sPDCCH/sPDSCH/PDCCH, without control format indicator (CFI)consideration, according to non-limiting aspects;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary 2-stage downlink control information(DCI) structure comprising an exemplary slow DCI for PDCCH, and anexemplary fast DCI for sPDCCH, and sPDSCH, in further non-limitingaspects;

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary resource scheduling pattern in the timedomain for available sPDSCH resources, wherein available OFDM symboloccasions for a scheduled sPDSCH can be indicated by a scheduling sPDCCHin addition to timing scheduling, including number of OFDM symbols, OFDMsymbol occasions, etc. for a scheduled sPDSCH, in further non-limitingaspects;

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary aspect of a non-limiting resource schedulingpattern demonstrating exemplary sPUCCH resources derivation after a UEreceives sPDCCH and/or sPDSCH transmission, wherein DL sTTI (includingsPDCCH and sPDSCH)>sTTI of sPUCCH, in further non-limiting embodiments;

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary aspect of a non-limiting resource schedulingpattern demonstrating exemplary sPUCCH resources derivation after a UEreceives sPDCCH and/or sPDSCH transmission, wherein DL sTTI (includingsPDCCH and sPDSCH) equal to sTTI of sPUCCH, in still furthernon-limiting embodiments;

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary aspect of a non-limiting resource schedulingpattern demonstrating exemplary sPUCCH resources derivation after a UEreceives sPDCCH and/or sPDSCH transmission, wherein DL sTTI (includingsPDCCH and sPDSCH) is less than sTTI of sPUCCH, in yet anothernon-limiting embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary 2-stage DCI structure comprising anexemplary slow DCI for PDCCH, an exemplary fast DCI for sPDCCH, whereinthe sPDCCH region for scheduling sPDSCH can be frequency divided fromthe sPDCCH region for scheduling sPUSCH, according to furthernon-limiting aspects;

FIG. 10 depicts exemplary aspect of a non-limiting resource schedulingpattern demonstrating exemplary UE determination of the associated ULsTTI for scheduled sPUSCH transmission, after receiving sPDCCH whichschedules sPUSCH transmission, to facilitate ensuring that all sPUSCHtransmissions within one UL subframe are associated with the sPDCCHresources within one DL subframe, in further non-limiting embodiments;

FIG. 11 depicts exemplary aspect of a non-limiting resource schedulingpattern demonstrating exemplary UE determination of the associated ULsTTI for scheduled sPUSCH transmission, after receiving sPDCCH whichschedules sPUSCH transmission, to accommodate instances where the numberof sPUSCH occasions can be smaller than the number of sPDCCH occasions,and where an sPUSCH occasion may be associated with multiple possiblesPDCCHs occasions, in still further non-limiting embodiments;

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting flow diagram of methodsfor performing aspects of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 13 illustrates another exemplary non-limiting flow diagram ofmethods for performing further non-limiting aspects of embodiments ofthe disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 14 illustrates yet another exemplary non-limiting flow diagram ofmethods for performing still other non-limiting aspects of embodimentsof the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 15 depicts an exemplary non-limiting device or system suitable forperforming various aspects of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 16 depicts a simplified functional block diagram of an exemplarynon-limiting communication device suitable for incorporation of variousaspects of the subject disclosure;

FIG. 17 depicts a simplified block diagram of exemplary program codeshown in FIG. 12, suitable for incorporation of various aspects of thesubject disclosure; and

FIG. 18 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example mobile device(e.g., a mobile handset, user device, user equipment, or accessterminal) that can facilitate various non-limiting aspects of thedisclosed subject matter in accordance with the embodiments describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described above, deficiencies of conventional control channelstructures and/or transmission time intervals in wireless communicationsystems can provide opportunities to reduce packet data latency, whichcan improve performance of wireless communication systems.

For example, Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communication systemsemploy a transmission time interval (TTI) of about 1 millisecond (ms) orapproximately 14 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)symbols. In addition, LTE employs two types of control channels,physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), which is a wide band signalacross whole system bandwidth and occupying the first several (e.g.,approximately 1-4) OFDM symbols of a typical 1 ms subframe. The regionoccupied by PDCCH is usually named as control region, and the rest partof the subframe is usually known as data region. A second type ofcontrol channel, enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH),occupies the data region in the time domain, while typically occupyingonly part of the bandwidth in the frequency domain.

Accordingly, TTI shortening and processing time reduction can beconsidered for solutions that can facilitate reducing packet datalatency, as the time unit for transmission can be reduced e.g., from 1ms (e.g., approximately 14 OFDM symbols) and the delay caused bydecoding can be reduced as well. However, while efforts are being madeto improve packet data latency for wireless medication systems, reducingthe length of TTI can have significant impacts on current system designas the physical channels are developed based on 1 ms subframe structure,as described above. In addition, reducing the length of TTI can alsohave significant impacts for scheduling and transmission via physicaldownlink shared channel (PDSCH) and physical uplink shared channel(PUSCH) with such shortened TTI, due to PDCCH competition and/or shortTTI (sTTI) inequality.

Accordingly, non-limiting embodiments as described herein can providecontrol channel structures and/or techniques that facilitate reductionof transmission time intervals in wireless communication systems, whichcan provide opportunities to reduce packet data latency, which canimprove performance of wireless communication systems, while avoidingand/or mitigating significant impacts for scheduling and transmissionvia PDSCH and PUSCH with such shortened TTI, due to PDCCH competitionand/or sTTI inequality.

As non-limiting examples, exemplary control structures and techniquesfor TTI shortening are provided. Exemplary techniques can compriseestablishing a UE device connection to a base station having a firstTTI, wherein the UE device is configured to employ TTI shortening andhas a second TTI different from the first TTI and monitoring a firstshort physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) region for a scheduleddownlink (DL) transmission via the second TTI, wherein a timedistribution associated with multiple second TTIs within the first TTIis determined based on a control format indicator (CFI) value indicatedvia the first TTI. Exemplary techniques can further comprise receiving aDL transmission via the second TTI and transmitting a hybrid automaticrepeat request (HARQ) acknowledgement (ACK) (HARQ-ACK) feedback on achannel of an associated UL for HARQ-ACK feedback, wherein for thenumber of DL transmissions via the second TTI within one of the firstTTI on the associated DL, the number of channels of the associated ULfor HARQ-ACK feedback occur within the same one of the first TTI on theassociated UL. Further non-limiting control structures and techniquesfor TTI shortening are described.

While a brief overview has been described above in order to provide abasic understanding of some aspects of the specification, variousnon-limiting devices, systems, and methods are now described as afurther aid in understanding the advantages and benefits of variousembodiments of the disclosed subject matter. To that end, it can beunderstood that such descriptions are provided merely for illustrationand not limitation.

Various embodiments of the subject disclosure described herein can beapplied to or implemented in exemplary wireless communication systemsand devices described below. In addition, various embodiments of thesubject disclosure are described mainly in the context of the 3GPParchitecture reference model. However, it is understood that with thedisclosed information, one skilled in the art could easily adapt for useand implement aspects of the subject disclosure in a 3GPP2 networkarchitecture as well as in other network architectures, as furtherdescribed herein.

The exemplary wireless communication systems and devices described belowemploy a wireless communication system, supporting a broadcast service.Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication such as voice, data, and so on. These systems maybe based on code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multipleaccess (TDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA),3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless access, 3GPP LTE-A (Long TermEvolution Advanced) wireless access, 3GPP2 UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband),WiMax, 3GPP NR (New Radio) wireless access for 5G, or some othermodulation techniques.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing an exemplary non-limitingmultiple access wireless communication system 100 in which variousembodiments described herein can be implemented. An access network 102(AN) includes multiple antenna groups, one group including antennas 104and 106, another group including antennas 108 and 110, and an additionalgroup including antennas 112 and 114. In FIG. 1, only two antennas areshown for each antenna group, however, more or fewer antennas may beutilized for each antenna group. Access terminal 116 (AT) is incommunication with antennas 112 and 114, where antennas 112 and 114transmit information to access terminal 116 over forward link 118 andreceive information from access terminal 116 over reverse link 120.Access terminal (AT) 122 is in communication with antennas 106 and 108,where antennas 106 and 108 transmit information to access terminal (AT)122 over forward link 124 and receive information from access terminal(AT) 122 over reverse link 126. In a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD)system, communication links 118, 120, 124 and 126 may use differentfrequency for communication. For example, forward link 118 may use adifferent frequency than that used by reverse link 120.

Each group of antennas and/or the area in which they are designed tocommunicate is often referred to as a sector of the access network. Innon-limiting aspects, antenna groups each can be designed to communicateto access terminals in a sector of the areas covered by access network102.

In communication over forward links 118 and 124, the transmittingantennas of access network 102 may utilize beamforming in order toimprove the signal-to-noise ratio of forward links for the differentaccess terminals 116 and 122. Also, an access network using beamformingto transmit to access terminals scattered randomly through its coveragenormally causes less interference to access terminals in neighboringcells than an access network transmitting through a single antenna toall its access terminals.

An access network (AN) may be a fixed station or base station used forcommunicating with the terminals and may also be referred to as anaccess point, a Node B, a base station, an enhanced base station, aneNodeB, or some other terminology. An access terminal (AT) may also becalled user equipment (UE), a communication device, a wirelesscommunication device, a mobile device, a mobile communication device, aterminal, an access terminal or some other terminology.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary non-limiting MIMOsystem 200 depicting an exemplary embodiment of a transmitter system 202(also referred to herein as the access network) and a receiver system204 (also referred to herein as an access terminal (AT) or userequipment (UE)), suitable for incorporation of various aspects directedto sTTIs described herein.

In a non-limiting aspect, each data stream can be transmitted over arespective transmit antenna. Exemplary TX data processor 206 can format,code, and interleave the traffic data for each data stream based on aparticular coding scheme selected for that data stream to provide codeddata.

The coded data for each data stream may be multiplexed with pilot datausing OFDM techniques. The pilot data is typically a known data patternthat is processed in a known manner and may be used at the receiversystem 204 to estimate the channel response. The multiplexed pilot andcoded data for each data stream is then modulated (e.g., symbol mapped)based on a particular modulation scheme (e.g., binary phase-shift keying(BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), M-ary or higher-order PSK(M-PSK), or M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM), etc.)selected for that data stream to provide modulation symbols. The datarate, coding, and modulation for each data stream may be determined byinstructions performed by processor 208.

The modulation symbols for all data streams are then provided to a TXMIMO processor 210, which may further process the modulation symbols(e.g., for OFDM). TX MIMO processor 210 then provides multiple (NT)modulation symbol streams to NT transmitters (TMTR) 212 a through 212 t.In certain embodiments, TX MIMO processor 210 applies beamformingweights to the symbols of the data streams and to the antenna from whichthe symbol is being transmitted.

Each transmitter 212 receives and processes a respective symbol streamto provide one or more analog signals, and further conditions (e.g.,amplifies, filters, and upconverts, etc.) the analog signals to providea modulated signal suitable for transmission over the MIMO channel. NTmodulated signals from transmitters 212 a through 212 t are thentransmitted from NT antennas 214 a through 214 t, respectively.

At receiver system 204, the transmitted modulated signals are receivedby multiple (NR) antennas 216 a through 216 r and the received signalfrom each antenna 216 is provided to a respective receiver (RCVR) 218 athrough 218 r. Each receiver 218 conditions (e.g., filters, amplifies,and downconverts, etc.) a respective received signal, digitizes theconditioned signal to provide samples, and further processes the samplesto provide a corresponding “received” symbol stream.

A RX data processor 220 then receives and processes the NR receivedsymbol streams from NR receivers 218 based on a particular receiverprocessing technique to provide NT “detected” symbol streams. The RXdata processor 220 then demodulates, deinterleaves, and decodes eachdetected symbol stream to recover the traffic data for the data stream.The processing by RX data processor 220 is complementary to thatperformed by TX MIMO processor 210 and TX data processor 206 attransmitter system 202.

A processor 222 periodically determines which pre-coding matrix to use,for example, as further described herein. Processor 222 formulates areverse link message comprising a matrix index portion and a rank valueportion.

The reverse link message may comprise various types of informationregarding the communication link and/or the received data stream. Thereverse link message is then processed by a TX data processor 224, whichalso receives traffic data for a number of data streams from a datasource 226, modulated by a modulator 228, conditioned by transmitters218 a through 218 r, and transmitted back to transmitter system 202.

At transmitter system 202, the modulated signals from receiver system204 are received by antennas 214, conditioned by receivers 212,demodulated by a demodulator 230, and processed by a RX data processor232 to extract the reserve link message transmitted by the receiversystem 204. Processor 208 then determines which pre-coding matrix to usefor determining the beamforming weights then processes the extractedmessage.

Memory 234 may be used to temporarily store some buffered/computationaldata from 230 or 232 through Processor 208, store some buffed data fromdata source 236, or store some specific program codes, for example, asfurther described herein, for example, regarding FIGS. 15-18. Likewise,memory 238 may be used to temporarily store some buffered/computationaldata from RX data processor 220 through processor 222, store some buffeddata from data source 226, or store some specific program codes, forexample, as further described herein, for example, regarding FIGS.15-18.

As described above, deficiencies of conventional control channelstructures and/or transmission time intervals in wireless communicationsystems can provide opportunities to reduce packet data latency, whichcan improve performance of wireless communication systems. As such,investigations to reduce latency in LTE networks have been undertaken tostudy enhancements to the E-UTRAN radio system in order to significantlyreduce the packet data latency over the LTE Uu air interface for anactive UE and significantly reduce the packet data transport round triplatency for UEs that have been inactive for a longer period (inconnected state), and for both FDD) and TDD modes, for example, in 3GPPRP-150465, “New SI proposal: Study on Latency reduction techniques forLTE”, Ericsson, Huawei, the entirety of which is incorporated herein byreference.

Among other things, the study is assessing specification impact,feasibility, and performance of TTI lengths between 0.5 ms and one OFDMsymbol, taking into account impact on reference signals and physicallayer control signaling. As described above, TTI shortening andprocessing time reduction can be considered for solutions that canfacilitate reducing packet data latency, as the time unit fortransmission can be reduced e.g., from 1 ms (e.g., approximately 14 OFDMsymbols) and the delay caused by decoding can be reduced as well. Asfurther described herein, reducing the length of TTI can also havesignificant impacts on current system design as the physical channelsare developed based on 1 ms subframe structure. Thus, non-limitingembodiments as described herein can provide control channel structuresand/or techniques that facilitate reduction of transmission timeintervals in wireless communication systems, which can provideopportunities to reduce packet data latency, which can improveperformance of wireless communication systems, while avoiding and/ormitigating significant impacts for scheduling and transmission via PDSCHand PUSCH with such shortened TTI, due to PDCCH competition and/or sTTIinequality.

As further described above, for control channels, the region occupied byPDCCH is usually named as control region, and the rest part of thesubframe is usually known as data region, whereas ePDCCH, occupies thedata region in the time domain, while typically occupying only part ofthe bandwidth in the frequency domain, for example, as further describedin 3GPP TS 36.213 v13.1.1, “E-UTRA Physical layer procedures (Release13)”, and 3GPP TR 36.211 V13.1.0, “E-UTRA Study on latency reductiontechniques for LTE (Release 13)”, the entireties of which areincorporated herein by reference. Among other things, these describecontrol format indicator (CFI) assignment procedures, physical controlformat indicator channel (PCFICH), which carries information about thenumber of OFDM symbols used for transmission of PDCCHs in a subframe,resource-element groups (REGs) used for defining the mapping of controlchannels to resource elements, enhanced resource-element groups (EREGs)used for defining the mapping of enhanced control channels to resourceelements, and formats for EPDCCH, which carries scheduling assignments.

Thus, it is understood that downlink control information (DCI) would becarried on one or more control channel, e.g., PDCCH/ePDCCH. Forinstance, DCI may be used to carry scheduling for downlink data oruplink data. In addition, DCI may also be used carry special messages,e.g., triggering some procedure or control UE power, from eNB to the UE,etc. Conventionally, different DCI formats exist to serve aforementioneddifferent purposes. As an example using downlink data scheduling, DCIfor downlink data scheduling may comprise the resource allocation (inthe frequency domain), modulation and coding scheme, redundancy version,HARQ process ID, and other information require to perform the reception,for example, as further described in 3GPP TS 36.212 V13.1.0, “E-UTRAMultiplexing and channel coding (Release 13)”, the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference, which, among other things, describesconventional DCI formatting.

As a result, because different DCI formats may have different payloadsizes and a UE may need to acquire different DCI formats, the UE isrequired to decode several decoding candidates without knowing which orwhether candidate exist, which is known as blind decoding. The resourceof decoding candidate(s) is known as a search space of the UE, and thesearch space is further partitioned to common search space and UEspecific search space which may contain different type of messages.Within search space, the UE may search for different DCI format. Also,within search space, the UE would monitor control channel addresseddifferent identifier, e.g., Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI),which can be done by descrambling cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of adecoding candidate with different RNTI and check which one would passthe check, for example, similar to related procedures described in 3GPPTS 36.213 v13.1.1, “E-UTRA Physical layer procedures (Release 13)”, and3GPP TS 36.212 V13.1.0, “E-UTRA Multiplexing and channel coding (Release13),” directed to UE monitoring of PDCCH/ePDCCH and assignment, UEreceiving and decoding PDCCH/ePDCCH and corresponding PDSCH, DCIcomposition and coding, and so on.

Accordingly, it is understood that timing relationships between controlchannel and data channel is specified in LTE. For instance, when a UEreceives a control channel in a subframe, n, for scheduling downlinkdata, the associated downlink data would located in the data region ofthe same subframe, n. And it would transmit corresponding HARQ feedbackin a specific subframe after the reception, e.g., in subframe, n+4. Forthe downlink data reception, asynchronous HARQ is applied, e.g., theretransmission timing is not tied to the feedback timing. Therefore,HARQ process ID would be required for the DL data scheduling. For the ULdata scheduling, when a UE receives a control channel in a subframe, n,for scheduling uplink data, the associated downlink data would locatedin subframe, n+4. For UL data, there is no control region as thecontrol/data are multiplexed in frequency domain and UL data can occupyall symbols in a subframe within the allocated resource, except forthose may be occupied by reference signal (RS). And it would expectcorresponding HARQ feedback or a retransmission grant in a specificsubframe after the reception, e.g., in subframe, n+4. For the uplinkdata transmission, synchronous HARQ is applied, e.g., the retransmissiontiming is tied to the feedback timing. Therefore, HARQ process ID is notrequired for the UL data scheduling. Such detail timing and relatedprocedures are described, for example, in 3GPP TS 36.213 v13.1.1,“E-UTRA Physical layer procedures (Release 13)”, directed to UEprocedures for receiving/transmitting PDSCH/PUSCH, Physical Hybrid-ARQIndicator Channel (PHICH) assignment procedures, and UL HARQ-ACK timing,etc.

As a result of these and further studies, a control signal, sPDCCH(PDCCH for short TTI), is proposed to accommodate the shorter TTIlength, and in addition, it is proposed that short TTI on DL may containsPDCCH decoding candidates, where a maximum number of blind decondings(BDs) will be defined for sPDCCH in UE-specific search space (USS) andwhere any DCI for sTTI scheduling carried on PDCCH may be taken intoaccount in the maximum total number of BDs, in the event that 2-levelDCI is adopted.

Besides the timing domain structure, a two-level DCI structure isproposed to minimize anticipated increase of control overhead whenemploying shortened TTI, for example such as described for a slow DCIand a fast DCI with TTI structures with different TTI lengths inR1-163068, “DL channel design for shortened TTI”, Qualcomm Incorporated,the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

That is, instead of carrying all the information required for one TTIdata reception as in conventional systems, some control information in aDCI, called slow DCI, which may not vary from time to time may be commonfor multiple TTI and could be signaled once, but not in every TTI, forwhich UE would assume the same content applied for multiple TTIs, forexample, as described below regarding FIG. 4. As there would still besome information which would vary between TTIs, some control informationin a DCI, called fast DCI, would be signal for each TTI, for example, asdescribed below regarding FIG. 4. For receiving data in one TTI, UE mayneed to combine/concatenate slow DCI and fast DCI to obtain the requiredinformation.

For instance, for a proposed two-level DCI, slow DCI, can comprise DCIcontent, which applies to more than one sTTI and can be carried oneither legacy PDCCH, or sPDCCH transmitted not more than once persubframe, whereas fast DCI can comprise DCI content, which applies to aspecific sTTI and can be carried on sPDCCH. In addition, for a sPDSCH ina given sTTI, the scheduling information is obtained from either acombination of slow DCI and fast DCI, or fast DCI only, overriding theslow DCI for that sTTI.

Furthermore, it is proposed, regarding handling transmissions withdifferent TTI length, UE can be expected to handle, in the same carrierin a subframe, receiving legacy TTI non-unicast PDSCH and short TTIunicast PDSCH, and receiving legacy TTI non-unicast PDSCH and legacy TTIunicast PDSCH(s). In addition, it is proposed that a UE can bedynamically scheduled (with subframe to subframe granularity) with PUSCHand/or sPUSCH, but a UE is not expected to transmit PUSCH and sPUSCHsimultaneously on the same resources, e.g., by superposition.

Accordingly, while an overview of relevant technologies has beendescribed above in order to provide a basic understanding of someaspects of the specification, various non-limiting devices, systems, andmethods are now described as a further aid in understanding theadvantages and benefits of various embodiments of the disclosed subjectmatter.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary instance of a short TTI (sTTI) pattern 300in the time domain, demonstrating a potential for interference or gaps302 or unused resources, wherein some resources in the gap 302 cannot beutilized by sPDCCH/sPDSCH/PDCCH, without control format indicator (CFI)consideration, according to non-limiting aspects. As described, forshort TTI 304, noted as sTTI, sPDCCH (or PDCCH for sTTI) (not shown) isdesigned for at least scheduling DL data or UL data transmission. EachsTTI 304 on DL may contain sPDCCH decoding candidates. The sPDSCHscheduled by a sPDCCH may be allocated to unused resources in thescheduled sTTI 304 wherein the sPDCCH and sPDSCH are TDM. The frequencyresources of the sPDSCH and the sPDCCH may be the same, but the symbolsof the sPDSCH and the sPDCCH are separated within one sTTI 304.

Firstly, for acquiring sPDCCH and/or sPDSCH, a UE (e.g., UE deviceconfigured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiversystem 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further described hereinregarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) requires the sTTI pattern/sPDCCH pattern toknow how sTTIs/sPDCCHs are distributed within a subframe 306. Since thesPDCCH region is improper to overlap with PDCCH region 308 (as indicatedin 310), a fixed sTTI pattern may induce interference or gap consideringdifferent PDCCH region 308. As shown in FIG. 3, if PDCCH region 308 isone symbol, the symbol #1 312 results in a gap wherein some resources inthe gap 302 cannot be utilized by sPDCCH/sPDSCH/PDCCH. If PDCCH region308 is three symbols, it induces interference in symbol #2 314 if theoverlapped sTTI 304 transmission transmits or it induces gap 302 insymbol #3 #4 if the overlapped sTTI 304 transmission does not transmit.Thus, CFI value representing PDCCH region 308 size may be considered fordetermine sTTI pattern, in a non-limiting aspect. The CFI considerationcan not only avoid collision between sPDCCH region (not shown) and PDCCHregion 308, but also avoid gap 302 generation, in a further non-limitingaspect. Thus, FIG. 3 depicts an instance of sTTI 304 pattern without CFIconsideration. For indicating sTTI pattern/sPDCCH pattern in timedomain, there are some alternatives, in still other non-limitingaspects.

As a non-limiting example, an exemplary sTTI/sPDCCH pattern can beindicated by CFI, for example, as further described herein. Forinstance, when a UE (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI andcomprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof,and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) isconfigured with TTI shortening, the UE can be configured to derive thesTTI/sPDCCH pattern based at least in part on the CFI value in thesubframe 306. In a non-limiting aspect, corresponding sTTI/sPDCCHpatterns could be different for different CFI values. In yet anothernon-limiting aspect, the sTTI/sPDCCH pattern for a specific CFI valuemay be configured via a higher layer or specified. Moreover, thesTTI/sPDCCH pattern may be relevant to the configured sTTI 304 size.Furthermore, some CFI values may mean that there is no short TTI 304scheduling or no sPDCCH transmission in the subframe 306. For instance,if a UE configured with TTI shortening detects CFI=1 or 3, for example,the UE can be configured to neither monitor sPDCCH nor receive sPDSCH inthe subframe 306.

As a further non-limiting example, an exemplary sTTI/sPDCCH pattern canbe indicated by CFI and a special PDCCH, for example, as furtherdescribed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the special PDCCH can beconfigured to indicate how sTTIs/sPDCCHs are distributed within asubframe 306, except the PDCCH region 308 indicated by CFI, in anon-limiting aspect. Furthermore, a field in DCI content carried on thespecial PDCCH can be configured to indicate the sTTI/sPDCCH pattern, ina further non-limiting aspect. In addition, for different CFI values, afield value may be configured to correspond to different sTTI/sPDCCHpattern, in yet another non-limiting aspect.

As yet another non-limiting example, an exemplary sTTI/sPDCCH patterncan be indicated by a special PDCCH, for example, as further describedherein. An exemplary special PDCCH can be configured to indicate howsTTIs/sPDCCHs are distributed within a subframe 306, for example, asfurther described above. Furthermore, a field in DCI content carried onthe special PDCCH can be configured to indicate the sTTI/sPDCCH pattern,as described above. In addition, for different CFI values, a field valuemay be configured to correspond to the same sTTI/sPDCCH pattern.Moreover, an exemplary network can be configured to determinesTTI/sPDCCH pattern considering PDCCH region 308 size. In thisnon-limiting example, it is noted that it is possible to induce a timinggap 302 wherein some resources in the timing gap 302 cannot be utilizedby sPDCCH/sPDSCH/PDCCH.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary 2-stage downlink control information(DCI) structure 400 comprising an exemplary slow DCI 402 for PDCCH 308,and an exemplary fast DCI 404 for sPDCCH 406, and sPDSCH 408, in furthernon-limiting aspects. Secondly, for sPDCCH 406 scheduling, two-level DCIstructure can be employed to facilitate reducing DL control overheadwhen TTI shortening is configured for a UE (e.g., UE device configuredto employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204,or portions thereof, and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS.12-18, etc.). The slow DCI 402 may carry the common DCI content whichapplies to more than one sTTI 304 within a subframe 306, as furtherdescribed herein. The slow DCI 402 may be UE-specific or common formultiple UEs and may be transmitted on legacy PDCCH or sPDCCH 406transmitted not more than once per subframe 306, as described above. Asfurther described above, the fast DCI 404 may be transmitted on sPDCCH406 and can be configured to carry DCI content that applies to aspecific sTTI 304.

The UE (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) can know sPDCCH 406decoding candidates for fast DCI 404 based on sTTI/sPDCCH pattern, in anon-limiting aspect. The special PDCCH described above may be the PDCCHcarrying slow DCI 402. That is, the slow DCI 402 received in a subframe306 can be configured to include the information of sTTI/sPDCCH patternfor the subframe 306. Thus, FIG. 4 shows a structure instance of slowDCI 402 on PDCCH, fast DCI 404 on sPDCCH 406, and sPDSCH 408. Thefrequency resource allocation information for the sPDCCH 406 and/orsPDSCH 408 may be included in the slow DCI 402, in a non-limitingaspect. However, available resources for sPDSCH 408 are restricted bythe interval of sPDCCH 406 occasions. As a result, to obtain moreflexibility of available sPDSCH 408 resources, available OFDM symboloccasions for a scheduled sPDSCH 408 can be indicated by the schedulingsPDCCH 406, in a further non-limiting aspect. As a result, an exemplarysPDCCH 406 can have flexibility to perform timing scheduling, includingnumber of OFDM symbols and/or the OFDM symbol occasions, for a scheduledsPDSCH 408, in various non-limiting embodiments.

As a non-limiting example, FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary resourcescheduling pattern 500 in the time domain for available sPDSCH 408resources, wherein available OFDM symbol occasions for a scheduledsPDSCH 408 can be indicated by a scheduling sPDCCH 406 in addition totiming scheduling, including number of OFDM symbols, OFDM symboloccasions, etc. for a scheduled sPDSCH 408, in further non-limitingaspects. Thus, as an instance for UEs (e.g., UE device configured toemploy short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, orportions thereof, and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS.12-18, etc.) 502512, shown in FIG. 5, the sPDCCH1 (sP1) for UE1 502indicate one OFDM symbol for the scheduled sPDSCH1 (D1); the sPDCCH2(sP2) for UE2 504 indicates two OFDM symbols for the scheduled sPDSCH2(D2); the sPDCCH3 (sP3) for UE3 506 indicates one OFDM symbol occasionfor the scheduled sPDSCH3 (D3); the sPDCCH4 (sP4) for UE4 508 indicatesthree OFDM symbol occasions for the scheduled sPDSCH4 (D4), and so on.Thus, the network could utilize sPDCCH 406 resources for sPDSCH 408transmission, and it could be transparent to UEs, except the scheduledUEs 502-512.

Thirdly, determining the associated sPUCCH resources for HARQ-ACKfeedback after a UE (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI andcomprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof,and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) receivessPDCCH 406 and/or sPDSCH 408 transmission can be performed as describedherein, in further non-limiting aspects. For instance, considering thatTTI shortening can induce processing time reduction on sPDCCH/sPDSCH,the earliest timing for a HARQ-ACK feedback may be N×sTTI_(DL) aftersPDCCH 406 and/or sPDSCH 408 reception. The sTTI_(DL) may be the sTTIlength for DL, including a sPDCCH 406 transmission and an associatedsPDSCH 408 transmission. As further described herein, some alternativesfor sPUCCH resources (not shown) derivation for HARQ-ACK feedback areprovided in further non-limiting aspects. Note that, for purposes ofdescribing alternatives for sPUCCH resources derivation for HARQ-ACKfeedback, the DL sTTI length may be different from the UL sTTI length.

In a first non-limiting example (denoted Alternative i in FIGS. 6-8),when a UE (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprisingAT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or asfurther described herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) receives sPDCCH406 and/or sPDSCH 408 in a sTTI 304, the associated sPUCCH resource forHARQ-ACK feedback can be the first available sPUCCH after N×sTTI_(DL),and in a non-limiting aspect, N=3. For the non-limiting case where DLsTTI 304 length is larger than or equal to UL sTTI 304 length, there maybe some UL sTTIs 304 without associated sPDCCH 406 and/or sPDSCH 408reception. Accordingly, in a further non-limiting aspect, to balance thesPUCCH resource utilization, a time offset/delay can be introduced forsPUCCH resource determination. For instance, if the time offset/delay iszero, the associated sPUCCH resource is the first available sPUCCH afterN×sTTI_(DL), in a non-limiting aspect. In a further non-limiting aspect,if the time offset/delay is not zero, e.g., one, etc. the associatedsPUCCH resource is the next one of the first available sPUCCH afterN×sTTI_(DL). Thus, an exemplary time offset/delay can be configured orindicated in sPDCCH 406 or indicated in slow DCI 402. With an exemplarytime offset/delay, the network can be configured to multiplex two sPDCCH406 regions separated in frequency domain into the same sPUCCH regionvia time-division multiplexing, in yet another non-limiting aspect.Furthermore, the frequency resource allocation of sPDCCH 406 region canbe configured or indicated via slow DCI 402 on PDCCH addressed via aspecial RNTI, as further described herein. In another non-limitingaspect, different UEs can be configured with different sPDCCH 406regions in frequency domain or configured with different special RNTIfor slow DCI 402 detection. In addition, an exemplary time offset/delaycan also be utilized for avoiding collision of sPUCCH and SRS. Note thatthe multiple sPDSCH 408 transmissions in different sTTIs 304 within oneDL subframe may not be associated with sPUCCH resources for HARQ-ACKfeedback within the same UL subframe, however.

In a second non-limiting example (denoted Alternative ii in FIGS. 6-8),multiple sPDSCH 408 transmissions in different sTTIs 304 within one DLsubframe can be associated into sPUCCH resources for HARQ-ACK feedbackwithin one UL subframe. For instance, subframe-based association can bereadily configured for network scheduling, in further non-limitingaspects. For example, one exemplary embodiment can comprise a UE (e.g.,UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122,receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further describedherein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.), which can be configured to receivesPDCCH 406 and/or sPDSCH 408 in a sTTI 304, wherein the associatedsPUCCH resource for HARQ-ACK feedback is the first available sPUCCHafter N×sTTI_(DL)+k, wherein k induces same UL subframe association forall sPDSCH 408 transmissions in different sTTIs 304 within one DLsubframe. In another exemplary embodiment, a UE can be configured toreceive sPDCCH 406 and/or sPDSCH 408 in a sTTI 304, wherein theassociated sPUCCH resource for HARQ-ACK feedback is within some timeoffset/delay of the first available sPUCCH after N×sTTI_(DL), in afurther non-limiting aspect. An exemplary time offset/delay can bespecified, configured, and/or indicated via L1 signaling, such that sameUL subframe association for all sPDSCH 408 transmissions in differentsTTIs 304 within one DL subframe, in yet another non-limiting aspect.

As non-limiting examples, FIGS. 6-8 depict non-limiting instancesdemonstrating exemplary difference between the two non-limiting examplesdescribed above. As a non-limiting example, FIG. 6 depicts an exemplaryaspect of a non-limiting resource scheduling pattern 600 demonstratingexemplary sPUCCH resources derivation after a UE (e.g., UE deviceconfigured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiversystem 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further described hereinregarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) receives sPDCCH 406 and/or sPDSCH 408transmission, wherein DL sTTI (including sPDCCH 406 and sPDSCH 408) isgreater than sTTI of sPUCCH, in further non-limiting embodiments. Notethat an exemplary time offset/delay can be set differently for slow DCI402 on PDCCH 308 addressed via different special RNTI 602 604, asfurther described herein. In addition, note that D_(ij) refers to j-thsTTI DL transmission, which comprises sPDCCH 406 and sPDSCH 408, whereinthe sPDCCH 406 region in frequency domain is indicated via slow DCI 402on PDCCH 308 addressed via a special RNTI-i (e.g., RNTI 602 604), in anon-limiting aspect. Note further that U_(ij) refers to the sPUCCH 606transmission associated with D_(ij). The time offset/delay is zero forslow DCI 402 on PDCCH 308 addressed via special RNTI1, and is not zero,e.g., one, for slow DCI 402 on PDCCH 308 addressed via special RNTI2.

As another non-limiting example, FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary aspect of anon-limiting resource scheduling pattern 700 demonstrating exemplarysPUCCH resources derivation after a UE (e.g., UE device configured toemploy short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, orportions thereof, and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS.12-18, etc.) receives sPDCCH 406 and/or sPDSCH 408 transmission, whereinDL sTTI (including sPDCCH 406 and sPDSCH 408) equal to sTTI of sPUCCH,in still further non-limiting embodiments. Thus, in a non-limitingaspect, exemplary time offset/delay, k sTTI of sPUCCH, after consideringprocessing time, can facilitate ensuring that all sPDSCH 408transmissions within one DL subframe are associated with the sPUCCHresources for HARQ-ACK feedback within one UL subframe. In addition,note that D_(j) refers to j-th sTTI DL transmission (e.g., sTTI DLtransmission 702), which comprises sPDCCH 406 and sPDSCH 408, and U_(j)refers to the sPUCCH transmission associated with D_(j) (e.g., sPUCCHtransmission 704). Note further that U(k) refers to associated sPUCCHresource U_(j) is with additional time offset/delay, k sTTI of sPUCCH,after considering processing time (e.g., sPUCCH 706). The timeoffset/delay ensures that all sPDSCH 408 transmissions within one DLsubframe are associated with the sPUCCH resources within one ULsubframe.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary aspect of a non-limiting resource schedulingpattern 800 demonstrating exemplary sPUCCH resources derivation after aUE (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) receives sPDCCH 406 and/orsPDSCH 408 transmission, wherein DL sTTI (including sPDCCH 406 andsPDSCH 408) is less than sTTI of sPUCCH, in yet another non-limitingembodiment. According to further non-limiting aspects, different timeoffset/delay for different reception times of sPDCCH 406 and/or sPDSCH408 can ensure that all sPDSCH 408 transmissions within one DL subframeare associated with the sPUCCH resources for HARQ-ACK feedback withinone UL subframe. For instance, note that D_(j) refers to j-th sTTI DLtransmission which comprises sPDCCH 406 and sPDSCH 408 (e.g., sTTI DLtransmission 802), and U_(j) refers to the sPUCCH transmissionassociated with Dj (e.g., sPUCCH transmission 804)). Note further thattwo exemplary sPUCCH transmissions within one sTTI of sPUCCH can beseparated via CDM or FDM, in a non-limiting aspect. In addition, notethat associated sPUCCH resource U_(j) is within additional timeoffset/delay after considering processing time, in another non-limitingaspect. Furthermore, different U_(j) can have different timeoffset/delay, for example, as described herein, to facilitate ensuringthat all sPDSCH 408 transmissions within one DL subframe are associatedwith the sPUCCH resources within one UL subframe.

It can be understood that, for scheduling sPUSCH transmission, since anexemplary one symbol sPDCCH 406 region may not be able to accommodatemore than one sPDCCH 406 transmissions, the sPUSCH and sPDSCH 408scheduling may be competitive and/or mutually exclusive. In addition,increasing frequency resources of the sPDCCH 406 region foraccommodating more than one sPDCCH 406 may restrict sPDSCH 408 to usethe same increased frequency resources for sPDSCH 408, which can resultin inefficient resource utilization. Moreover, exemplary sPUSCH canutilize different sTTI lengths from DL sTTI length, as further describedherein. Furthermore, because sPDCCH 406 occasions are relevant to DLsTTI, including sPDCCH 406 and sPDSCH 408, network scheduling of sPUSCHtransmissions without unequal sPDCCH 406 occasions would be complex.

Accordingly, further non-limiting embodiments can facilitate schedulingsPUSCH transmission, for example, by separating sPDCCH 406 regions forscheduling sPUSCH and sPDSCH 408 transmission, in further non-limitingaspects. For instance, an exemplary sPDCCH 406 region for schedulingsPDSCH 408 can be frequency divided from the sPDCCH 406 region forscheduling sPUSCH. In a further non-limiting aspect, an exemplary sPDCCH406 region for scheduling sPUSCH can comprise sPDCCH 406 carrying an ULgrant, wherein a sPDCCH 406 can be carried on part of the symbol(s)within the duration of the DL data channel (e.g., the PDSCH region).More specifically, duration of the DL data channel can be the remainingregion excluding PDCCH region 308 within one subframe. In a non-limitingaspect, there is neither sPDCCH 406 carrying DL assignment nor sPDSCH408 within the sPDCCH 406 region for scheduling sPUSCH. In addition,there is no sPDCCH 406 carrying an UL grant within the sPDCCH 406 regionfor scheduling sPDSCH 408. Accordingly, a sPDSCH 408 scheduled by asPDCCH 406 can be allocated to unused resources within the samefrequency resources as the scheduling sPDCCH 406 region for the sPDSCH408.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary 2-stage DCI structure 900 comprising anexemplary slow DCI for PDCCH 308, an exemplary fast DCI for sPDCCH 408,wherein the sPDCCH 406 region for scheduling sPDSCH 408 can be frequencydivided from the sPDCCH 902 region for scheduling sPUSCH 904, accordingto further non-limiting aspects. Thus, FIG. 9 depicts an instance of thefrequency divided structure of separated sPDCCH regions (e.g., sPDCCH406 and sPDCCH 902) for scheduling sPUSCH 904 and sPDSCH 408transmission. In a non-limiting aspect, the separated sPDCCH regions(e.g., sPDCCH 406 and sPDCCH 902) for scheduling sPUSCH 904 and sPDSCH408 transmission are not overlapped in frequency domain. One frequencyresources region is utilized for sPDCCH 406 for scheduling sPDSCH 408and the scheduled sPDSCH 408 transmission. The scheduling sPDCCH 406 andthe scheduled sPDSCH 408 are transmitted within one DL sTTI 304. Anotherfrequency resources region is utilized only for sPDCCH 902 forscheduling sPUSCH 904. From the perspective of an exemplary eNB,available sPDCCH(s) 406 occasions for scheduling sPDSCH 408 within theone sPDCCH 406 region is smaller than the available sPDCCH(s) 902occasions for scheduling sPUSCH 904 within the another one sPDCCH 406region, in a further non-limiting aspect.

In non-limiting embodiments, frequency resource allocation informationfor the sPDCCH 902 region for scheduling sPUSCH 904 can be included inslow DCI, as further described herein. Exemplary multiple sPDCCHs 902for scheduling sPUSCHs 904 for different UEs (e.g., UE device configuredto employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204,or portions thereof, and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS.12-18, etc.) can be multiplexed via one or more of FDM, TDM, and/orcombinations thereof. Considering UE search space design for monitoringsPDCCH 902 candidates, a UE can be configured to monitor all orsubstantially all OFDM symbols within the sPDCCH 902 region forscheduling sPUSCH 904, in a non-limiting aspect. In other non-limitingaspects, a UE (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI andcomprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof,and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) can beconfigured to monitor parts of the OFDM symbols within the sPDCCH 902region for scheduling sPUSCH 904, in still further non-limiting aspects.In addition, determination on the parts of the OFDM symbols can dependon the sTTI 304 length and/or sTTI 304 pattern of sPUSCH 904 for the UE.As a non-limiting example, parts of the OFDM symbols can be separatedwith an interval equal to sPUSCH 904 sTTI 304 length. Moreover, tofacilitate accommodation of the search space of multiple UEs, anexemplary time offset/symbol offset can be utilized to time-divisionmultiplex multiple search spaces within a sPDCCH region 902 forscheduling sPUSCH 904. Furthermore, parts of OFDM symbols for sPDCCH 902monitoring may be indicated in the slow DCI, as further describedherein. As a non-limiting example, exemplary slow DCI can be configuredto include information of sPDCCH 902 pattern and/or one or more ofsPUSCH 904 sTTI length, time offset, symbol offset, and/or combinationsthereof.

In yet another non-limiting aspect, when a UE (e.g., UE deviceconfigured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiversystem 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further described hereinregarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) receives sPDCCH 902 which schedules sPUSCH904 transmission, it needs to determine the associated UL sTTI (notshown) for scheduled sPUSCH 904 transmission. Considering that the TTIshortening may induce processing time reduction on preparing sPUSCHsignaling, the earliest associated sTTI for sPUSCH 904 transmission maybe N′×sTTI_(UL) after sPDCCH 902 reception. The sTTI_(UL) may be thesTTI length for sPUSCH 904 transmission or the interval of monitoredsPDCCH 902 occasions. Thus, various embodiments described herein canfacilitate providing for such sPUSCH 904 resources derivation.

As a non-limiting example (denoted as Alternative I in FIGS. 10-11),when a UE (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprisingAT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or asfurther described herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) receives sPDCCH902 which schedules sPUSCH 904 transmission, an associated sPUSCH 904resource can be the first available sPUSCH 904 after N′×sTTI_(UL), andin a non-limiting aspect, N′=3. Because an sPDCCH 902 region can utilizethe DL OFDM symbols except for a legacy PDCCH region, there may be somesPUSCH 904 sTTIs (not shown) without associated sPDCCH 902 reception.Accordingly, in a non-limiting aspect, embodiments described herein, canfacilitate balancing sPUSCH 904 resource utilization, by employing a ULtime offset for some sPDCCH 902 occasions considering sPUSCH 904resource determination. for instance, if the UL time offset/delay iszero, the associated sPUSCH 904 resource is the first available sPUSCH904 after N′×sTTI_(UL), in a non-limiting aspect. In anothernon-limiting aspect, if the UL time offset/delay is not zero, e.g., one,etc., the associated sPUSCH 904 resource is the next one of the firstavailable sPUSCH 904 after N′×sTTI_(UL). Accordingly, an exemplary ULtime offset/delay can be configured or indicated in sPDCCH 902, asdescribed herein. Note that the multiple sPDCCH 902 in different sTTIswithin one DL subframe may not be associated with sPUSCH 904 resourceswithin the same UL subframe.

Thus, as another non-limiting example (denoted as Alternative II inFIGS. 10-11) multiple sPDCCH 902 in different sTTIs within one DLsubframe can be associated into sPUSCH 904 resources within one ULsubframe. For instance, subframe-based association can be readilyconfigured for network scheduling. As an exemplary embodiment, when a UE(e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116,AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) receives sPDCCH 902scheduling sPUSCH 904 transmission, the associated sPUSCH 904 resourcecan be the first available sPUSCH 904 after N′×sTTI_(UL)+k′, wherein kinduces same UL subframe association for all sPDCCH 902 transmissions indifferent sTTIs within one DL subframe. In another non-limitingembodiment, when a UE receives sPDCCH 902 scheduling sPUSCH 904transmission, associated sPUSCH 904 resource can be within someexemplary UL time offset/delay of the first available sPUSCH 904 afterN′×sTTI_(UL), in a further non-limiting aspect. Accordingly, exemplaryUL time offset/delay can be specified, configured, indicated via L1signaling, for example, as described herein, such that all sPUSCH 904transmissions within one UL subframe are associated with the sPDCCH 902resources within one DL subframe.

As a non-limiting example, FIG. 10 depicts exemplary aspects of anon-limiting resource scheduling pattern 1000 demonstrating exemplary UE(e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116,AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) determination of theassociated UL sTTI for scheduled sPUSCH 904 transmission, afterreceiving sPDCCH 902 which schedules sPUSCH 904 transmission, tofacilitate ensuring that all sPUSCH 904 transmissions within one ULsubframe are associated with the sPDCCH 902 resources within one DLsubframe, in further non-limiting embodiments. Thus, FIG. 10 depictssPDCCH 902 and sPUSCH 904 association. For Alternative II, note thatexemplary time offset/delay, k′ sTTI of sPUSCH 904 (or k intervals ofsPDCCH 902 occasions), after considering processing time ensures thatall sPUSCH 904 transmissions within one UL subframe are associated withthe sPDCCH 902 resources within one DL subframe. Note further that a-frefers to the OFDM symbols for sPDCCH 902 monitoring for a UE (e.g., UEdevice configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122,receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further describedherein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.), and U_(a)-U_(f) refers to theassociated sPUSCH 904 transmission scheduled by sPDCCH 902 received inOFDM symbols a-f (e.g., a is associated with U_(a), etc.). In addition,note that f is possibly associated with U_(f1) and U_(f2). Thus, if thetime offset/delay is zero, f is associated with U_(f1), in anon-limiting aspect, otherwise, f is associated with U_(f2), in afurther non-limiting aspect. In addition, note that for Alternative II,U(k′) refers to the situation where the associated sPUSCH 904U_(a)-U_(f) is with an exemplary time offset/delay, _(k)′ sTTI of sPUSCH904 (or k intervals of sPDCCH 902 occasions), after consideringprocessing time. As result, an exemplary offset/delay can be configuredto facilitate ensuring that all sPUSCH 904 transmissions within one ULsubframe are associated with the sPDCCH 902 resources within one DLsubframe.

In yet another non-limiting example, FIG. 11 depicts exemplary aspect ofa non-limiting resource scheduling pattern 1100 demonstrating exemplaryUE (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) determination of theassociated UL sTTI for scheduled sPUSCH 904 transmission, afterreceiving sPDCCH 902 which schedules sPUSCH 904 transmission, toaccommodate instances where the number of sPUSCH 904 occasions can besmaller than the number of sPDCCH 902 occasions, and where an sPUSCH 904occasion may be associated with multiple possible sPDCCHs 902 occasions,in still further non-limiting embodiments. As a result, FIG. 11 depictsan instance where the number of sPUSCH 904 occasions is smaller than thenumber of sPDCCH 902 occasions. Thus, a sPUSCH 904 occasion Can beassociated with multiple possible sPDCCHs 902 occasions. As the instancein FIG. 11 shows, the sPUSCH 904 occasion, U_(a)/U_(b)/U_(c), 1102, canbe scheduled by sPDCCH 902 received in any of OFDM symbols a, b, c, in afurther non-limiting aspect. In yet another non-limiting example, if theUE (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) has detected UL grant forscheduling a sPUSCH 904 transmission, the UE can be configured to skipdetecting other sPDCCH 902 candidates which associate with the samesPUSCH 904 occasion of the scheduled sPUSCH 904 transmission. As theinstance in FIG. 10 depicts, the processing time is assumed asN′×sTTI_(UL), wherein N′=3 and sTTI_(UL) is the intervals of themonitored sPDCCH 902 occasions. Note further that a-f refers to the OFDMsymbols for sPDCCH 902 monitoring for a UE (e.g., UE device configuredto employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204,or portions thereof, and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS.12-18, etc.), and Ua-Uf refers to the associated sPUSCH 904 transmissionscheduled by sPDCCH 902 received in OFDM symbols a-f (e.g., a isassociated with Ua, etc.). In addition, note that, since the number ofsPUSCH 904 occasions is more than the number of sPDCCH 902 occasions, asPUSCH 904 occasion can be associated with multiple possible sPDCCHs 902occasions (e.g., the sPUSCH 904 occasion, Ua/Ub/Uc, 1102, can bescheduled by sPDCCH 902 received in any of OFDM symbols a, b, c, in anon-limiting aspect. In a further non-limiting aspect, processing timeis assumed as N′×sTTI_(UL), wherein N′=3 and sTTI_(UL) is the intervalsof sPDCCH 902 occasions, as further described above.

In view of the example embodiments described, methods that can beimplemented in accordance with the disclosed subject matter will bebetter appreciated with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 12-14, forexample. While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodsare shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be understoodand appreciated that the claimed subject matter is not limited by theorder of the blocks, as some blocks may occur in different orders and/orconcurrently with other blocks from what is depicted and describedherein. Where non-sequential, or branched, flow is illustrated viaflowchart, it can be understood that various other branches, flow paths,and orders of the blocks, can be implemented which achieve the same or asimilar result. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required toimplement the methods described hereinafter. Additionally, it should befurther understood that the methods and/or functionality disclosedhereinafter and throughout this specification are capable of beingstored on an article of manufacture to facilitate transporting andtransferring such methods to computers, for example, as furtherdescribed herein. The terms computer readable medium, article ofmanufacture, and the like, as used herein, are intended to encompass acomputer program accessible from any computer-readable device or mediasuch as a tangible computer readable storage medium.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example non-limiting flow diagram of methods 1200for performing aspects of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.For instance, referring to FIG. 12, methods 1200 for TTI shortening cancomprise, at 1202, establishing with the UE device (e.g., UE deviceconfigured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiversystem 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further described hereinregarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) a connection to a base station (e.g., abase station such as an access network 102, a transmitter system 202,and/or portions thereof, configured for TTI shortening, etc.) having afirst TTI, wherein the UE device (e.g., UE device configured to employshort TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, orportions thereof, and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS.12-18, etc.) is configured to employ TTI shortening and has a second TTI(e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) different from the first TTI, as describedherein. As a non-limiting example, exemplary methods 1200 can compriseestablishing the connection to the base station having the first TTIcomprising a subframe (e.g., subframe 306). In a further non-limitingexample, exemplary methods 1200 can comprise establishing the connectionto the base station, wherein the UE device (e.g., UE device configuredto employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204,or portions thereof, and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS.12-18, etc.) has the second TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) comprising one ormore of a one symbol, a two symbol, a three symbol, a four symbol, or aseven symbol duration (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.).

In addition, as described above, methods 1200 can further comprise, at1204, monitoring a first short PDCCH region (e.g., a region comprisingfirst sPDCCH 406, etc.) for a scheduled downlink (DL) transmission viathe second TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.), wherein a time distributionassociated with multiple second TTIs (e.g., sTIIs 304, etc.) within thefirst TTI is determined based on a CFI value indicated via the firstTTI, as further described herein. As a non-limiting example, exemplarymethods 1200 can comprise monitoring the first short PDCCH region (e.g.,a region comprising first sPDCCH 406, etc.) via the second TTI (e.g.,sTTI 304, etc.), wherein the time distribution associated with themultiple second TTIs (e.g., sTTIs 304, etc.) within the first TTI isbased on one or more of a symbol size of a PDCCH region within the firstTTI, a first PDCCH (e.g., first PDCCH 402, etc.) received in the firstTTI, or the CFI value indicated in the first TTI. In anothernon-limiting example, exemplary methods 1200 can comprise monitoring thefirst short PDCCH region (e.g., a region comprising first sPDCCH 406,etc.) according to a time distribution for monitoring the first shortPDCCH region (e.g., a region comprising first sPDCCH 406, etc.) within afirst TTI based on one or more of the symbol size of the PDCCH regionwithin the first TTI, the first PDCCH (e.g., first PDCCH 402, etc.)received in the first TTI, or the CFI value indicated in the first TTI.

In further non-limiting implementations, exemplary methods 1200 cancomprise, at 1206, detecting a first short PDCCH (e.g., first sPDCCH406, etc.). In still further non-limiting implementations, exemplarymethods 1200 can comprise, at 1208, determining one or more of a numberof symbols or a number of symbol occasions for the scheduled DLtransmission via the second TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) based on thefirst short PDCCH (e.g., first sPDCCH 406, etc.).

FIG. 13 illustrates an example non-limiting flow diagram of methods 1300for performing aspects of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.For instance, referring to FIG. 13, methods 1300 for TTI shortening cancomprise, at 1302, establishing with the UE device (e.g., UE deviceconfigured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiversystem 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further described hereinregarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) a connection to a base station (e.g., abase station such as an access network 102, a transmitter system 202,and/or portions thereof, configured for TTI shortening, etc.) having afirst TTI for an associated DL and an associated UL, wherein the UEdevice (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) is configured to employTTI shortening and has a second TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) differentfrom the first TTI, as further described herein. As a non-limitingexample, exemplary methods 1300 can comprise establishing the connectionto the base station having the first TTI comprising a subframe (e.g.,subframe 306). In a further non-limiting example, exemplary methods 1300can comprise establishing the connection to the base station, whereinthe UE device (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI andcomprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof,and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) has thesecond TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) comprising one or more of a onesymbol, a two symbol, a three symbol, a four symbol, or a seven symbolduration (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.), for example, as further describedabove.

In addition, as described above, methods 1300 can further comprise, at1304, receiving a DL transmission via the second TTI (e.g., sTTI 304,etc.), in further non-limiting aspects. In further non-limitingimplementations, exemplary methods 1300 can comprise, at 1306,transmitting hybrid automatic repeat request (HARD) acknowledgement(ACK) (HARQ-ACK) feedback on an associated UL channel for HARQ-ACKfeedback, wherein for a number of DL transmissions via the second TTI(e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) within one of the first TTI on the associated DL,a number of associated UL channels for HARQ-ACK feedback occur withinthe same one of the first TTI on the associated UL, as further describedherein. More specifically, for all of DL transmissions via the secondTTI with one of the first TTI on the associated DL, all associated ULchannels of the associated UL for HARQ-ACK feedback occur within thesame one of the first TTI on the associated UL. As a non-limitingexample, exemplary methods 1300 can comprise transmitting the HARQ-ACKfeedback with subframe (e.g., subframe 306) association for theassociated UL for short PDSCH transmissions in different shortened TTIswithin one DL subframe (e.g., subframe 306), as further describedherein. In a further non-limiting example, exemplary methods 1300 cancomprise transmitting the HARQ-ACK feedback, wherein when detecting thefirst short PDCCH, the HARQ-ACK is transmitted on the associated ULchannel for HARQ-ACK feedback with a first time offset of the firstavailable associated UL channel for HARQ-ACK feedback after N×second TTI(e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) length, where N is an integer, and wherein forthe number of DL transmissions via the second TTI within one of thefirst TTI on the associated DL, a first time offset induces sameassociation on the one of the first TTI on the associated UL, in stillfurther non-limiting aspects.

In still further non-limiting implementations, exemplary methods 1300can comprise, at 1308, detecting with the UE device (e.g., UE deviceconfigured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiversystem 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further described hereinregarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) a first short PDCCH (e.g., first sPDCCH406, etc.) for scheduling the DL transmission via the second TTI (e.g.,sTTI 304, etc.), in further non-limiting aspects.

In addition, exemplary method 1300 can comprise, at 1310, transmittingthe HARQ-ACK feedback of the at least the DL transmission, wherein whendetecting the first short PDCCH, the HARQ-ACK is transmitted on a firstavailable associated UL channel for HARQ-ACK feedback after N×second TTI(e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) length+k, where N is an integer and where k is avalue specified, configured, or indicated in the first sPDCCH or in aPDCCH received in the first TTI to induce subframe (e.g., subframe 306)association for the associated UL for sPDSCH (e.g., sPDCCH 406, sPDCCH902, etc.) transmissions in different shortened TTIs within one DLsubframe (e.g., subframe 306) or to balance sPUCCH resource utilization,in still further non-limiting aspects. For a number of DL transmissionsvia the second TTI within one of the first TTI on the associated DL, kinduces same association on one of the first TTI on the associated UL,according to further non-limiting aspects. More specifically, for all ofDL transmissions via the second TTI within one of the first TTI on theassociated DL, k induces same association on one of the first TTI on theassociated UL, according to further non-limiting aspects.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example non-limiting flow diagram of methods 1400for performing aspects of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.For instance, referring to FIG. 14, methods 1400 for TTI shortening cancomprise, at 1402, establishing with a UE device (e.g., UE deviceconfigured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiversystem 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further described hereinregarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) a connection to a base station (e.g., abase station such as an access network 102, a transmitter system 202,and/or portions thereof, configured for TTI shortening, etc.) having afirst TTI for an associated DL and an associated UL, wherein the UEdevice (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) is configured to employTTI shortening and having a third TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) of a numberof TTIs different from the first TTI, as further described herein. In afurther non-limiting example, exemplary methods 1300 can compriseestablishing the connection to the base station, wherein the UE device(e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116,AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) has the third TTI (e.g.,sTTI 304, etc.) comprising one or more of a one symbol, a two symbol, athree symbol, a four symbol, or a seven symbol duration (e.g., sTTI 304,etc.), for example, as further described above.

In addition, as described above, methods 1400 can further comprise, at1404, detecting a second sPDCCH (e.g., second short PDCCH 902, etc.) forscheduling an UL transmission via the third TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.),in a further non-limiting aspect.

In further non-limiting implementations, exemplary methods 1400 cancomprise, at 1406, transmitting one or more scheduled UL transmission onone or more associated UL channel, wherein for a number of short PDCCHswithin one of the first TTI on the associated DL, a plurality ofassociated UL channels having the one or more scheduled UL transmissionoccur within the same one of the first TTI on the associated UL, instill further non-limiting aspects. More specifically, for all of shortPDCCHs within one of the first TTI on the associated DL, all ofassociated UL channels having the one or more scheduled UL transmissionoccur within the same one of the first TTI on the associated UL. As anon-limiting example, exemplary methods 1400 can comprise transmittingthe one or more scheduled UL transmission on the associated UL channelfor scheduled UL transmission with a second time offset of another of afirst available channel of the associated UL channel for scheduled ULtransmission after N′×TTI_(UL), and wherein, for a number of shortPDCCHs within one of the first TTI on the associated DL, the second timeoffset induces same association on one of the first TTI on theassociated UL for a plurality of associated UL channels scheduled viathe number of short PDCCHs. More specifically, for all of short PDCCHswithin one of the first TTI on the associated DL, the second time offsetinduces same association on one of the first TTI on the associated ULfor all of associated UL channels scheduled via the number of shortPDCCHs. In addition, in a further non-limiting example, exemplarymethods 1400 can comprise transmitting the one or more scheduled ULtransmission on a first available associated UL channel for scheduled ULtransmission after N′×TTI_(UL)+k′, where N′ is the integer, TTI_(UL) isthe length of the third TTI or an interval between symbols of amonitored second sPDCCH, and where k′ is specified, configured, orindicated in the second sPDCCH, wherein for a number of sPDCCHs withinthe one of the first TTI on the associated DL, k′ induces sameassociation on the one of the first TTI on the associated UL for theplurality of associated UL channels scheduled via the number of sPDCCHs.More specifically, for all of sPDCCHs within the one of the first TTI onthe associated DL, k′ induces same association on the one of the firstTTI on the associated UL for all of associated UL channels scheduled viathe all of sPDCCHs.

In still further non-limiting implementations, exemplary methods 1400can comprise, at 1408, monitoring the second short PDCCH (e.g., secondshort PDCCH 902, etc.) according to a time distribution for monitoringthe second short PDCCH (e.g., second short PDCCH 902, etc.) within thefirst TTI based on one or more of a PDCCH region (e.g., PDCCH region308, etc.) within the first TTI or a CFI value indicated in the firstTTI. As a non-limiting example, exemplary methods 1400 can comprisemonitoring the second short PDCCH (e.g., second short PDCCH 902, etc.),according to the time distribution for monitoring the second short PDCCH(e.g., second short PDCCH 902, etc.) within the first TTI based on asubset of all symbols in the first TTI except the PDCCH region (e.g.,PDCCH region 308) within the first TTI, in still further non-limitingaspects.

In view of the example embodiments described supra, devices and systemsthat can be implemented in accordance with the disclosed subject matterwill be better appreciated with reference to the diagrams of FIGS.15-18. While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the exampledevices and systems are shown and described as a collection of blocks,it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matteris not limited by the order, arrangement, and/or number of the blocks,as some blocks may occur in different orders, arrangements, and/orcombined and/or distributed with other blocks or functionalityassociated therewith from what is depicted and described herein.Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement theexample devices and systems described hereinafter. Additionally, itshould be further understood that the example devices and systems and/orfunctionality disclosed hereinafter and throughout this specificationare capable of being stored on an article of manufacture to facilitatetransporting and transferring such methods to computers, for example, asfurther described herein. The terms computer readable medium, article ofmanufacture, and the like, as used herein, are intended to encompass acomputer program product accessible from any computer-readable device ormedia such as a tangible computer readable storage medium.

It can be understood that various techniques described herein may beimplemented in connection with hardware or software or, whereappropriate, with a combination of both. As used herein, the terms“device,” “component,” “system” and the like are likewise intended torefer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination ofhardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example,a “device,” “component,” subcomponent, “system” portions thereof, and soon, may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on aprocessor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution,a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both anapplication running on computer and the computer can be a component. Oneor more components may reside within a process and/or thread ofexecution and a component may be localized on one computer and/ordistributed between two or more computers.

It can be further understood that while a brief overview of examplesystems, methods, scenarios, and/or devices has been provided, thedisclosed subject matter is not so limited. Thus, it can be furtherunderstood that various modifications, alterations, addition, and/ordeletions can be made without departing from the scope of theembodiments as described herein. Accordingly, similar non-limitingimplementations can be used or modifications and additions can be madeto the described embodiments for performing the same or equivalentfunction of the corresponding embodiments without deviating therefrom.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example non-limiting device or system 1500suitable for performing various aspects of the disclosed subject matter.The device or system 1500 can be a stand-alone device or a portionthereof, a specially programmed computing device or a portion thereof(e.g., a memory retaining instructions for performing the techniques asdescribed herein coupled to a processor), and/or a composite device orsystem comprising one or more cooperating components distributed amongseveral devices, as further described herein. As an example, examplenon-limiting device or system 1500 can comprise example devices and/orsystems regarding FIGS. 1-14, as described above, or as furtherdescribed below regarding FIGS. 16-18, for example, or portions thereof.For example, FIG. 15 depicts an example device 1500, such as a UE device(e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116,AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.). In another non-limitingexample, FIG. 15 depicts an example device 1500, such as a base station(e.g., a base station such as an access network 102, a transmittersystem 202, and/or portions thereof, configured for TTI shortening,etc.), according to control channel structures and/or TTI shorteningmethods as described herein.

Accordingly, device or system 1500 can comprise a memory 1502 thatretains various instructions with respect to facilitating variousoperations, for example, such as: establishing with the UE device (e.g.,UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122,receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further describedherein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) a connection to a base station(e.g., a base station such as an access network 102, a transmittersystem 202, and/or portions thereof, configured for TTI shortening,etc.) having a first TTI, wherein the UE device (e.g., UE deviceconfigured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiversystem 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further described hereinregarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) is configured to employ TTI shortening andhas a second TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) (or third TTI and so on)different from the first TTI; monitoring a first short PDCCH region(e.g., a region comprising first sPDCCH 406, etc.) for a scheduleddownlink (DL) transmission via the second TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.),wherein a time distribution associated with multiple second TTIs (e.g.,sTIIs 304, etc.) within the first TTI is determined based on a CFI valueindicated via the first TTI; detecting a first short PDCCH (e.g., firstsPDCCH 406, etc.); determining one or more of a number of symbols or anumber of symbol occasions for the scheduled DL transmission via thesecond TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) based on the first short PDCCH (e.g.,first sPDCCH 406, etc.); encryption; decryption; providing various useror device interfaces; and/or communications routines such as networking,and/or peer-to-peer communications routines, and/or the like.

For instance, device or system 1500 can comprise a memory 1502 thatretains instructions for establishing the connection to the base stationhaving the first TTI comprising a subframe (e.g., subframe 306), forestablishing the connection to the base station, wherein the UE device(e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116,AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as furtherdescribed herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) has the second TTI (e.g.,sTTI 304, etc.) comprising one or more of a one symbol, a two symbol, athree symbol, a four symbol, or a seven symbol duration (e.g., sTTI 304,etc.), and so on, as further described above regarding FIGS. 12-14, forexample.

Additionally, memory 1502 can retain instructions for receiving a DLtransmission via the second TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.); transmittinghybrid automatic repeat request (HARD) acknowledgement (ACK) (HARQ-ACK)feedback on an associated UL channel for HARQ-ACK feedback, wherein fora number of DL transmissions via the second TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.)within one of the first TTI on the associated DL, a number of channelsof the associated UL for HARQ-ACK feedback occur within the same one ofthe first TTI on the associated UL; detecting with the UE device (e.g.,UE device configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122,receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further describedherein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) a first short PDCCH (e.g., firstsPDCCH 406, etc.) for scheduling the DL transmission via the second TTI(e.g., sTTI 304, etc.); transmitting the HARQ-ACK feedback of the atleast the DL transmission, wherein when detecting the first sPDCCH, theHARQ-ACK is transmitted on a first associated UL channel for HARQ-ACKfeedback after N×second TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) length+k, where N isan integer and where k is a value specified, configured, or indicated inthe first sPDCCH or in a PDCCH received in the first TTI; encryption;decryption; providing various user or device interfaces; and/orcommunications routines such as networking, and/or peer-to-peercommunications routines, and/or the like, for example, as furtherdescribed above regarding FIG. 13.

Additionally, memory 1502 can retain instructions for establishing withthe UE device (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI andcomprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof,and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) aconnection to a base station (e.g., a base station such as an accessnetwork 102, a transmitter system 202, and/or portions thereof,configured for TTI shortening, etc.) having a first TTI for anassociated DL and an associated UL, wherein the UE device (e.g., UEdevice configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122,receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further describedherein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) is configured to employ TTIshortening and having a third TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.) of a number ofTTIs different from the first TTI; detecting a second sPDCCH (e.g.,second short PDCCH 902, etc.) for scheduling an UL transmission via thethird TTI (e.g., sTTI 304, etc.); transmitting the one or more scheduledUL transmission on one or more associated UL, wherein for a number ofshort PDCCHs received within one of the first TTI on the associated DL,a plurality of associated UL channels having the one or more scheduledUL transmission occur within the same one of the first TTI on theassociated UL; monitoring the second short PDCCH (e.g., second shortPDCCH 902, etc.) according to a time distribution for monitoring thesecond short PDCCH (e.g., second short PDCCH 902, etc.) within the firstTTI based on one or more of a PDCCH region within the first TTI or a CFIvalue indicated in the first TTI; encryption; decryption; providingvarious user interfaces; and/or communications routines such asnetworking, and/or the like, for example, as further described aboveregarding FIG. 14.

The above example instructions and other suitable instructions forfunctionalities as described herein, alternatives for, and/ormodifications thereof for example, regarding FIGS. 1-14 and 16-18, etc.,can be retained within memory 1502, and a processor 1504 can be utilizedin connection with executing the instructions.

One or more embodiments as described herein can comprise a computerprogram product directed to a tangible computer readable storage mediumcomprising computer-executable instructions, for example, as describedabove regarding FIGS. 1-15, etc., that, in response to execution by aprocessor, can cause a computing device including a processor, forexample, such as a UE device (e.g., UE device configured to employ shortTTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portionsthereof, and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS. 12-18,etc.), a base station (e.g., a base station such as an access network102, a transmitter system 202, and/or portions thereof, configured forTTI shortening, etc.), etc., to perform operations according to thecomputer-executable instructions on the tangible computer readablestorage medium, for example, as further described herein.

FIG. 16 depicts a simplified functional block diagram of an exemplarynon-limiting communication device 1600, such as a UE device (e.g., UEdevice configured to employ short TTI and comprising AT 116, AT 122,receiver system 204, or portions thereof, and/or as further describedherein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.), a base station (e.g., a basestation such as an access network 102, a transmitter system 202, and/orportions thereof, configured for TTI shortening, etc.), etc., suitablefor incorporation of various aspects of the subject disclosure. As shownin FIG. 16, exemplary communication device 1600 in a wirelesscommunication system can be utilized for realizing the UEs (or ATs) 116and 122 in FIG. 1, for example, and the wireless communications systemsuch as described above regarding FIG. 1, as a further example, can bethe LTE system, the NR system, etc. Exemplary communication device 1600can comprise an input device 1602, an output device 1604, a controlcircuit 1606, a central processing unit (CPU) 1608, a memory 1610, aprogram code 1612, and a transceiver 1614. Exemplary control circuit1606 can execute the program code 1612 in the memory 1610 through theCPU 1608, thereby controlling an operation of the communications device1600. Exemplary communications device 1600 can receive signals input bya user through the input device 1602, such as a keyboard or keypad, andcan output images and sounds through the output device 1604, such as amonitor or speaker. Exemplary transceiver 1614 can be used to receiveand transmit wireless signals, delivering received signals to thecontrol circuit 1606, and outputting signals generated by the controlcircuit 1606 wirelessly, for example, as described above regarding FIG.1.

Accordingly, further non-limiting embodiments as described herein cancomprise a UE device (e.g., UE device configured to employ short TTI andcomprising AT 116, AT 122, receiver system 204, or portions thereof,and/or as further described herein regarding FIGS. 12-18, etc.) that cancomprise one or more of a exemplary control circuit 1606, a processor(e.g., CPU 1608, etc.) installed in the control circuit (e.g., controlcircuit 1606), a memory (e.g., memory 1610) installed in the controlcircuit (e.g., control circuit 1606) and coupled to the processor (e.g.,CPU 1608, etc.), wherein the processor (e.g., CPU 1608, etc.) isconfigured to execute a program code (e.g., program code 1612) stored inthe memory (e.g., memory 1610) to perform method steps and/or providefunctionality as described herein. As a non-limiting example, exemplaryprogram code (e.g., program code 1612) can comprise computer-executableinstructions as described above regarding FIG. 15, portions thereof,and/or complementary or supplementary instructions thereto, in additionto computer-executable instructions configured to achievefunctionalities as described herein, regarding FIGS. 1-14, and/or anycombinations thereof.

FIG. 17 depicts a simplified block diagram 1700 of exemplary programcode 1612 shown in FIG. 16, suitable for incorporation of variousaspects of the subject disclosure. In this embodiment, exemplary programcode 1612 can comprise an application layer 1702, a Layer 3 portion1704, and a Layer 2 portion 1706, and can be coupled to a Layer 1portion 1708. The Layer 3 portion 1704 generally performs radio resourcecontrol. The Layer 2 portion 1706 generally performs link control. TheLayer 1 portion 1708 generally performs physical connections. For LTE,LTE-A, or NR system, the Layer 2 portion 1706 may include a Radio LinkControl (RLC) layer and a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. The Layer 3portion 1704 may include a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer. Inaddition, as further described above, exemplary program code (e.g.,program code 1612) can comprise computer-executable instructions asdescribed above regarding FIG. 15, portions thereof, and/orcomplementary or supplementary instructions thereto, in addition tocomputer-executable instructions configured to achieve functionalitiesas described herein, regarding FIGS. 1-14, and/or any combinationsthereof.

FIG. 18 depicts a schematic diagram of an example mobile device 1800(e.g., a mobile handset, UE, AT, etc.) that can facilitate variousnon-limiting aspects of the disclosed subject matter in accordance withthe embodiments described herein. Although mobile handset 1800 isillustrated herein, it will be understood that other devices can be anyof a number of other a mobile devices, for instance, and that the mobilehandset 1800 is merely illustrated to provide context for theembodiments of the subject matter described herein. The followingdiscussion is intended to provide a brief, general description of anexample of a suitable environment 1800 in which the various embodimentscan be implemented. While the description includes a general context ofcomputer-executable instructions embodied on a tangible computerreadable storage medium, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe subject matter also can be implemented in combination with otherprogram modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software.

Generally, applications (e.g., program modules) can include routines,programs, components, data structures, etc., that perform particulartasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the methods described herein canbe practiced with other system configurations, includingsingle-processor or multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, and the like,each of which can be operatively coupled to one or more associateddevices.

A computing device can typically include a variety of computer readablemedia. Computer readable media can comprise any available media that canbe accessed by the computer and includes both volatile and non-volatilemedia, removable and non-removable media. By way of example and notlimitation, computer readable media can comprise tangible computerreadable storage and/or communication media. Tangible computer readablestorage can include volatile and/or non-volatile media, removable and/ornon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, or other data. Tangible computer readable storage caninclude, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or othermemory technology, CD ROM, digital video disk (DVD) or other opticaldisk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storageor other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be usedto store the desired information and which can be accessed by thecomputer.

Communication media, as contrasted with tangible computer readablestorage, typically embodies computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signalsuch as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes anyinformation delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal, for example, asfurther described herein. By way of example, and not limitation,communication media includes wired media such as a wired network ordirect-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF,infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer readablecommunications media as distinguishable from computer-readable storagemedia.

The handset 1800 can include a processor 1802 for controlling andprocessing all onboard operations and functions. A memory 1804interfaces to the processor 1802 for storage of data and one or moreapplications 1806 (e.g., communications applications such as browsers,apps, etc.). Other applications can support operation of communicationsand/or financial communications protocols. The applications 1806 can bestored in the memory 1804 and/or in a firmware 1808, and executed by theprocessor 1802 from either or both the memory 1804 or/and the firmware1808. The firmware 1808 can also store startup code for execution ininitializing the handset 1800. A communications component 1810interfaces to the processor 1802 to facilitate wired/wirelesscommunication with external systems, e.g., cellular networks, VoIPnetworks, and so on. Here, the communications component 1810 can alsoinclude a suitable cellular transceiver 1811 (e.g., a GSM transceiver, aCDMA transceiver, an LTE transceiver, etc.) and/or an unlicensedtransceiver 1813 (e.g., Wireless Fidelity (WiFi™), WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMax®)) for corresponding signalcommunications, and the like. The handset 1800 can be a device such as acellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) with mobilecommunications capabilities, and messaging-centric devices. Thecommunications component 1810 also facilitates communications receptionfrom terrestrial radio networks (e.g., broadcast), digital satelliteradio networks, and Internet-based radio services networks, and so on.

The handset 1800 includes a display 1812 for displaying text, images,video, telephony functions (e.g., a Caller ID function, etc.), setupfunctions, and for user input. For example, the display 1812 can also bereferred to as a “screen” that can accommodate the presentation ofmultimedia content (e.g., music metadata, messages, wallpaper, graphics,etc.). The display 1812 can also display videos and can facilitate thegeneration, editing and sharing of video quotes. A serial I/O interface1814 is provided in communication with the processor 1802 to facilitatewired and/or wireless serial communications (e.g., Universal Serial Bus(USB), and/or Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)1494) through a hardwire connection, and other serial input devices(e.g., a keyboard, keypad, and mouse). This supports updating andtroubleshooting the handset 1800, for example. Audio capabilities areprovided with an audio I/O component 1816, which can include a speakerfor the output of audio signals related to, for example, indication thatthe user pressed the proper key or key combination to initiate the userfeedback signal. The audio I/O component 1816 also facilitates the inputof audio signals through a microphone to record data and/or telephonyvoice data, and for inputting voice signals for telephone conversations.

The handset 1800 can include a slot interface 1818 for accommodating aSIC (Subscriber Identity Component) in the form factor of a cardSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) or universal SIM 1820, and interfacingthe SIM card 1820 with the processor 1802. However, it is to beappreciated that the SIM card 1820 can be manufactured into the handset1800, and updated by downloading data and software.

The handset 1800 can process Internet Protocol (IP) data traffic throughthe communication component 1810 to accommodate IP traffic from an IPnetwork such as, for example, the Internet, a corporate intranet, a homenetwork, a person area network, a cellular network, etc., through aninternet service provider (ISP) or broadband cable provider. Thus, VoIPtraffic can be utilized by the handset 1800 and IP-based multimediacontent can be received in either an encoded or a decoded format.

A video processing component 1822 (e.g., a camera and/or associatedhardware, software, etc.) can be provided for decoding encodedmultimedia content. The video processing component 1822 can aid infacilitating the generation and/or sharing of video. The handset 1800also includes a power source 1824 in the form of batteries and/or analternating current (AC) power subsystem, which power source 1824 caninterface to an external power system or charging equipment (not shown)by a power input/output (I/O) component 1826.

The handset 1800 can also include a video component 1830 for processingvideo content received and, for recording and transmitting videocontent. For example, the video component 1830 can facilitate thegeneration, editing and sharing of video. A location-tracking component1832 facilitates geographically locating the handset 1800. A user inputcomponent 1834 facilitates the user inputting data and/or makingselections as previously described. The user input component 1834 canalso facilitate selecting perspective recipients for fund transfer,entering amounts requested to be transferred, indicating accountrestrictions and/or limitations, as well as composing messages and otheruser input tasks as required by the context. The user input component1834 can include such conventional input device technologies such as akeypad, keyboard, mouse, stylus pen, and/or touch screen, for example.

Referring again to the applications 1806, a hysteresis component 1836facilitates the analysis and processing of hysteresis data, which isutilized to determine when to associate with an access point. A softwaretrigger component 1838 can be provided that facilitates triggering ofthe hysteresis component 1838 when a WiFi™ transceiver 1813 detects thebeacon of the access point. A Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) client1840 enables the handset 1800 to support SIP protocols and register thesubscriber with the SIP registrar server. The applications 1806 can alsoinclude a communications application or client 1846 that, among otherpossibilities, can facilitate user interface component functionality asdescribed above.

Various aspects of the disclosure have been described above. It shouldbe apparent that the teachings herein may be embodied in a wide varietyof forms and that any specific structure, function, or both beingdisclosed herein is merely representative. Based on the teachings hereinone skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed hereinmay be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two ormore of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, anapparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using anynumber of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatusmay be implemented or such a method may be practiced using otherstructure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition toor other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein. As an exampleof some of the above concepts, in some aspects concurrent channels maybe established based on pulse repetition frequencies. In some aspectsconcurrent channels may be established based on pulse position oroffsets. In some aspects concurrent channels may be established based ontime hopping sequences. In some aspects concurrent channels may beestablished based on pulse repetition frequencies, pulse positions oroffsets, and time hopping sequences.

Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signalsmay be represented using any of a variety of different technologies andtechniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information,signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout theabove description may be represented by voltages, currents,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields orparticles, or any combination thereof.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits, and algorithmsteps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may beimplemented as electronic hardware (e.g., a digital implementation, ananalog implementation, or a combination of the two, which may bedesigned using source coding or some other technique), various forms ofprogram or design code incorporating instructions (which may be referredto herein, for convenience, as “software” or a “software module”), orcombinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or software depends upon the particular application and designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

In addition, the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, andcircuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein maybe implemented within or performed by an integrated circuit (“IC”), anaccess terminal, or an access point. The IC may comprise a generalpurpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array(FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistorlogic, discrete hardware components, electrical components, opticalcomponents, mechanical components, or any combination thereof designedto perform the functions described herein, and may execute codes orinstructions that reside within the IC, outside of the IC, or both. Ageneral purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

It is understood that any specific order or hierarchy of steps in anydisclosed process is an example of a sample approach. Based upon designpreferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy ofsteps in the processes may be rearranged while remaining within thescope of the present disclosure. The accompanying method claims presentelements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to belimited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theaspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.A software module (e.g., including executable instructions and relateddata) and other data may reside in a data memory such as RAM memory,flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a harddisk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readablestorage medium known in the art. A sample storage medium may be coupledto a machine such as, for example, a computer/processor (which may bereferred to herein, for convenience, as a “processor”) such that theprocessor can read information (e.g., code or program code) from andwrite information to the storage medium. A sample storage medium may beintegral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium mayreside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in user equipment. In thealternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discretecomponents in user equipment. Moreover, in some aspects any suitablecomputer-program product may comprise a computer-readable mediumcomprising codes relating to one or more of the aspects of thedisclosure. In some aspects a computer program product may comprisepackaging materials.

While the various embodiments of the subject disclosure have beendescribed in connection with various non-limiting aspects, it will beunderstood that the embodiments of the subject disclosure may be capableof further modifications. This application is intended to cover anyvariations, uses or adaptation of the subject disclosure following, ingeneral, the principles of the subject disclosure, and including suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within the known andcustomary practice within the art to which the subject disclosurepertains.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the artto describe devices and/or processes in the fashion set forth herein,and thereafter use engineering practices to integrate such describeddevices and/or processes into systems. That is, at least a portion ofthe devices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into asystem via a reasonable amount of experimentation. Those having skill inthe art will recognize that a typical system can include one or more ofa system unit housing, a video display device, a memory such as volatileand non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digitalsignal processors, computational entities such as operating systems,drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one ormore interaction devices, such as a touch pad or screen, and/or controlsystems including feedback loops and control device (e.g., feedback forsensing position and/or velocity; control devices for moving and/oradjusting parameters). A typical system can be implemented utilizing anysuitable commercially available components, such as those typicallyfound in data computing/communication and/or networkcomputing/communication systems.

Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter sometimes illustratedifferent components contained within, or connected with, othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that, in fact, many other architectures can beimplemented which achieve the same and/or equivalent functionality. In aconceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the sameand/or equivalent functionality is effectively “associated” such thatthe desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components hereincombined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as“associated with” each other such that the desired functionality isachieved, irrespective of architectures or intermediary components.Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being“operably connected,” “operably coupled,” “communicatively connected,”and/or “communicatively coupled,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality, and any two components capable of being so associated canalso be viewed as being “operably couplable” or “communicativelycouplable” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specificexamples of operably couplable or communicatively couplable can include,but are not limited to, physically mateable and/or physicallyinteracting components, wirelessly interactable and/or wirelesslyinteracting components, and/or logically interacting and/or logicallyinteractable components.

With respect to substantially any plural and/or singular terms usedherein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural tothe singular and/or from the singular to the plural as can beappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for thesake of clarity, without limitation.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, in general,terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodiesof the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g.,the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limitedto,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” theterm “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limitedto,” etc.). It will be further understood by those skilled in the artthat, if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation isintended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and inthe absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example,as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may containusage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” tointroduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should notbe construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by theindefinite articles “a” or “an” limit any particular claim containingsuch introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one”or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articlesused to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specificnumber of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should beinterpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the barerecitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at leasttwo recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in thoseinstances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C,etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the senseone having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “asystem having at least one of A, B, and C” would include, but not belimited to, systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and Ctogether, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” wouldinclude but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, Calone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those skilledin the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presentingtwo or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, ordrawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities ofincluding one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. Forexample, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include thepossibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are describedin terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individualmember or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and allpurposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, allranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible sub-rangesand combinations of sub-ranges thereof. Any listed range can be easilyrecognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range beingbroken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths,tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein canbe readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third,etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all languagesuch as “up to,” “at least,” and the like include the number recited andrefer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into sub-ranges asdiscussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in theart, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a grouphaving 1-3 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, agroup having 1-5 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells,and so forth.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that various embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, and that various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the subject disclosure.Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intendedto be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by theappended claims.

In addition, the words “example” and “non-limiting” are used herein tomean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidanceof doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by suchexamples. Moreover, any aspect or design described herein as “anexample,” “an illustration,” “example” and/or “non-limiting” is notnecessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otheraspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent examplestructures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art.Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,”and other similar words are used in either the detailed description orthe claims, for the avoidance of doubt, such terms are intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as an opentransition word without precluding any additional or other elements, asdescribed above.

As mentioned, the various techniques described herein can be implementedin connection with hardware or software or, where appropriate, with acombination of both. As used herein, the terms “component,” “system” andthe like are likewise intended to refer to a computer-related entity,either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, orsoftware in execution. For example, a component can be, but is notlimited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, anobject, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or acomputer. By way of illustration, both an application running oncomputer and the computer can be a component. In addition, one or morecomponents can reside within a process and/or thread of execution and acomponent can be localized on one computer and/or distributed betweentwo or more computers.

Systems described herein can be described with respect to interactionbetween several components. It can be understood that such systems andcomponents can include those components or specified sub-components,some of the specified components or sub-components, or portions thereof,and/or additional components, and various permutations and combinationsof the foregoing. Sub-components can also be implemented as componentscommunicatively coupled to other components rather than included withinparent components (hierarchical). Additionally, it should be noted thatone or more components can be combined into a single component providingaggregate functionality or divided into several separate sub-components,and that any one or more middle component layers, such as a managementlayer, can be provided to communicatively couple to such sub-componentsin order to provide integrated functionality, as mentioned. Anycomponents described herein can also interact with one or more othercomponents not specifically described herein but generally known bythose of skill in the art.

As mentioned, in view of the example systems described herein, methodsthat can be implemented in accordance with the described subject mattercan be better appreciated with reference to the flowcharts of thevarious figures and vice versa. While for purposes of simplicity ofexplanation, the methods can be shown and described as a series ofblocks, it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subjectmatter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks canoccur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks fromwhat is depicted and described herein. Where non-sequential, orbranched, flow is illustrated via flowchart, it can be understood thatvarious other branches, flow paths, and orders of the blocks, can beimplemented which achieve the same or a similar result. Moreover, notall illustrated blocks can be required to implement the methodsdescribed hereinafter.

While the disclosed subject matter has been described in connection withthe disclosed embodiments and the various figures, it is to beunderstood that other similar embodiments may be used or modificationsand additions may be made to the described embodiments for performingthe same function of the disclosed subject matter without deviatingtherefrom. Still further, multiple processing chips or multiple devicescan share the performance of one or more functions described herein, andsimilarly, storage can be effected across a plurality of devices. Inother instances, variations of process parameters (e.g., configuration,number of components, aggregation of components, process step timing andorder, addition and/or deletion of process steps, addition ofpreprocessing and/or post-processing steps, etc.) can be made to furtheroptimize the provided structures, devices and methods, as shown anddescribed herein. In any event, the systems, structures and/or devices,as well as the associated methods described herein have manyapplications in various aspects of the disclosed subject matter, and soon. Accordingly, the subject disclosure should not be limited to anysingle embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth, spirit andscope in accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for a user equipment (UE) devicecomprising a processor and a memory, comprising: establishing with theUE device a connection to a base station having a first transmissiontime interval (TTI), wherein the UE device is configured to employ TTIshortening and has a second TTI different from the first TTI; andmonitoring a first short physical downlink control channel (sPDCCH)region for a scheduled downlink (DL) transmission via the second TTI,wherein a time distribution associated with multiple second TTIs withinthe first TTI is determined based at least in part on a control formatindicator (CFI) value indicated via the first TTI.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the establishing the connection to the base stationhaving the first TTI comprises establishing the connection to the basestation having the first TTI comprising a subframe, and wherein the UEdevice has the second TTI comprising at least one of a one symbol, a twosymbol, a three symbol, a four symbol, or a seven symbol duration. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring the first sPDCCH regionvia the second TTI comprises monitoring the first sPDCCH region via thesecond TTI, wherein the time distribution associated with the multiplesecond TTIs within the first TTI is based on at least one of a symbolsize of a PDCCH region within the first TTI, a first PDCCH received inthe first TTI, or the CFI value indicated in the first TTI.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the monitoring the first sPDCCH regioncomprises monitoring the first sPDCCH region according to a timedistribution for monitoring the first sPDCCH region within a first TTIbased on at least one of the symbol size of the PDCCH region within thefirst TTI, the first PDCCH received in the first TTI, or the CFI valueindicated in the first TTI.
 5. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising: detecting the first sPDCCH; and determining at least one ofa number of symbols or a number of symbol occasions for the scheduled DLtransmission via the second TTI based at least in part on the firstsPDCCH.
 6. A method for a user equipment (UE) device comprising aprocessor and a memory, comprising: establishing with the UE device aconnection to a base station having a first transmission time interval(TTI) for an associated downlink (DL) and an associated uplink (UL),wherein the UE device is configured to employ TTI shortening and has asecond TTI different from the first TTI; receiving a DL transmission viathe second TTI; and transmitting hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)acknowledgement (ACK) (HARQ-ACK) feedback on an associated UL channelfor HARQ-ACK feedback, wherein for a number of DL transmissions via thesecond TTI within one of the first TTI on the associated DL, a number ofassociated UL channels for HARQ-ACK feedback occur within the same oneof the first TTI on the associated UL.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereinthe establishing the connection to the base station having the first TTIcomprises establishing the connection to the base station having thefirst TTI comprising a subframe.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein theestablishing the connection to the base station comprises establishingthe connection to the base station, wherein the UE device has the secondTTI comprising at least one of a one symbol, a two symbol, a threesymbol, a four symbol, or a seven symbol duration.
 9. The method ofclaim 6, further comprising: detecting with the UE device a first shortphysical downlink control channel (sPDCCH) for scheduling at least theDL transmission via the second TTI.
 10. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising: transmitting the HARQ-ACK feedback of the at least the DLtransmission, wherein when detecting the first sPDCCH, the HARQ-ACK istransmitted on a first available associated UL channel for HARQ-ACKfeedback after N×second TTI length+k, where N is an integer and where kis a value at least one of specified, configured, or indicated in atleast one of the first sPDCCH or in a PDCCH received in the first TTI.11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting the HARQ-ACKfeedback comprises transmitting the HARQ-ACK feedback, wherein for thenumber of DL transmissions via the second TTI within one of the firstTTI on the associated DL, k induces same association on the one of thefirst TTI on the associated UL.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein thetransmitting the HARQ-ACK feedback comprises transmitting the HARQ-ACKfeedback, wherein when detecting the first sPDCCH, the HARQ-ACK istransmitted on the associated UL channel for HARQ-ACK feedback with afirst time offset after N×second TTI length.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the transmitting the HARQ-ACK feedback comprises transmittingthe HARQ-ACK feedback, wherein for the number of DL transmissions viathe second TTI within another one of the first TTI on the associated DL,the first time offset induces same association on the another one of thefirst TTI on the associated UL.
 14. A method for a user equipment (UE)device comprising a processor and a memory, comprising: establishingwith the UE device a connection to a base station having a firsttransmission time interval (TTI) for an associated downlink (DL) and anassociated uplink (UL), wherein the UE device is configured to employTTI shortening and having a third TTI of a number of TTIs different fromthe first TTI; detecting a second short physical downlink controlchannel (sPDCCH) for scheduling an UL transmission via the third TTI;and transmitting at least a scheduled UL transmission on at least anassociated UL channel, wherein for a number of sPDCCHs within one of thefirst TTI on the associated DL, a plurality of associated UL channelshaving the at least the scheduled UL transmission occur within the sameone of the first TTI on the associated UL.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the establishing the connection to the base station comprisesestablishing the connection to the base station, wherein the UE devicehas the third TTI comprising at least one of a one symbol, a two symbol,a three symbol, a four symbol, or a seven symbol duration.
 16. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising: monitoring the second sPDCCHaccording to a time distribution for monitoring the second short PDCCHwithin the first TTI based at least in part on at least one of a PDCCHregion within the first TTI or a control format indicator (CFI) valueindicated in the first TTI.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein themonitoring the second sPDCCH comprises monitoring the second sPDCCH,according to the time distribution for monitoring the second sPDCCHwithin the first TTI based at least in part on at least a subset of allsymbols in the first TTI except the PDCCH region within the first TTI.18. The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitting the at least thescheduled UL transmission on the at least the associated UL channelcomprises transmitting the at least the scheduled UL transmission on afirst available associated UL channel for scheduled UL transmissionafter N′×TTI_(UL)+k′, where N′ is an integer, TTI_(UL) is a length ofthe third TTI or an interval between symbols of a monitored secondsPDCCH, and where k′ is a value at least one of specified, configured,or indicated in the second sPDCCH.
 19. The method of claim 18, whereinthe transmitting the at least the scheduled UL transmission on the atleast the associated UL channel comprises transmitting the at least thescheduled UL transmission, wherein for a number of sPDCCHs within theone of the first TTI on the associated DL, k′ induces same associationon the one of the first TTI on the associated UL for the plurality ofassociated UL channels scheduled via the number of sPDCCHs.
 20. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the transmitting the at least the scheduledUL transmission on the at least the associated UL channel comprisestransmitting the at least the scheduled UL transmission on theassociated UL channel for scheduled UL transmission with a second timeoffset of another of a first available associated UL channel forscheduled UL transmission after N′×TTI_(UL).